How have bird species changed from 1880 to now? Most of us would probably assume there have been changes between now and the 1880’s when the Champlain Society was holding field courses on Mount Desert Island (MDI). However, to properly answer this question, we compared the Champlain Society’s records from 4 years of field courses, to the past 4 years of eBird and iNaturalist data from 2018 – 2021 on MDI.
What we found was quite interesting! The Champlain Society recorded 98 species, which is less than half (47%) of the 210 species recorded in modern times by eBird and iNaturalist. Today, we see 35 more species with a ‘common’ relative abundance (n = 95), than historically recorded (n = 60). We also looked at changes of historical species, and found that 8% of these species increased in relative abundance (Table 1), 14% decreased (Table 2), and 76% exhibited no change (Figure 1). Table 1 also includes more notably increasing species that were not even seen by the Champlain Society but are now ‘uncommon’ or ‘common’ on MDI. Some examples of the 8% of historic species that have increased are Black-throated Blue Warbler (Figure 2), Blue Jay (Figure 3), and Eastern Phoebe (Figure 4). These species’ increases can be attributed to changes in the landscape such as human development, and the conversion of forests from boreal/coniferous to mixed/deciduous. Examples of the 14% of historic species that have decreased are American Woodcock (Figure 5), Black-crowned Night-Heron (Figure 6), and Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (Figure 7). These species’ decreases could be attributed to changes in the landscape such as the loss of boreal forests, fields, and the infrastructural development by humans on the island.
We also wanted to look more closely at the species observed today, that were not recorded historically by the Champlain Society’s efforts. There are 82 species not recorded historically, but are regularly documented by observers today (Table 3). These species are those whose ranges have shifted north due to climate change, and those that can be attributed to human-caused changes on the landscape. This could include the changes to more deciduous forests, human development, and non-native species introduced by humans (e.g., House Sparrow, European Starling, etc.). For a complete list of relative abundance changes by species see Table 4.
Figure 1. This figure shows the number of bird species recorded by the Champlain Society in the 1880’s that have increased, decreased, and showed no change in realtive abundance from the 1880’s to present day. Data collected on Mount Desert Island, Maine, USA, and provided by eBird and iNaturalist.
Table 1. This table shows the species recorded by the Champlain Society with noteable increases in relative abundance. Also included are species with intensive increases in relative abundance that were not recored in the 1880’s by the Champlain Society. There are 33 species that are now ‘common’ on MDI, and 19 species that are ‘uncommon’ that were not present historically. Data collected on Mount Desert Island, Maine, USA, and provided by eBird and iNaturalist.
Click to show table
| Common name | Scientific name | R. a. 1880’s | R. a. modern | R. a. changes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black-throated Blue Warbler | Setophaga caerulescens | very rare | common | increased |
| Blue Jay | Cyanocitta cristata | rare | common | increased |
| Brown Creeper | Certhia americana | rare | common | increased |
| Eastern Bluebird | Sialia sialis | very rare | uncommon | increased |
| Eastern Phoebe | Sayornis phoebe | rare | common | increased |
| Red Crossbill | Loxia curvirostra | rare | common | increased |
| Red-tailed Hawk | Buteo jamaicensis | very rare | uncommon | increased |
| Solitary Sandpiper | Tringa solitaria | rare | common | increased |
| Black-bellied Plover | Pluvialis squatarola | not detected | uncommon | increased |
| Blackpoll Warbler | Setophaga striata | not detected | uncommon | increased |
| Canada Goose | Branta canadensis | not detected | common | increased |
| Cape May Warbler | Setophaga tigrina | not detected | uncommon | increased |
| Common Eider | Somateria mollissima | not detected | common | increased |
| Common Grackle | Quiscalus quiscula | not detected | common | increased |
| Common Merganser | Mergus merganser | not detected | common | increased |
| Common Raven | Corvus corax | not detected | common | increased |
| Cooper’s Hawk | Accipiter cooperii | not detected | uncommon | increased |
| Double-crested Cormorant | Nannopterum auritum | not detected | common | increased |
| Eastern Towhee | Pipilo erythrophthalmus | not detected | common | increased |
| Eastern Wood-Pewee | Contopus virens | not detected | common | increased |
| European Starling | Sturnus vulgaris | not detected | uncommon | increased |
| Gray Catbird | Dumetella carolinensis | not detected | common | increased |
| Great Black-backed Gull | Larus marinus | not detected | common | increased |
| Great Cormorant | Phalacrocorax carbo | not detected | uncommon | increased |
| Great Crested Flycatcher | Myiarchus crinitus | not detected | uncommon | increased |
| Great Egret | Ardea alba | not detected | uncommon | increased |
| Green-winged Teal | Anas crecca | not detected | uncommon | increased |
| Hooded Merganser | Lophodytes cucullatus | not detected | common | increased |
| House Finch | Haemorhous mexicanus | not detected | common | increased |
| House Sparrow | Passer domesticus | not detected | common | increased |
| Laughing Gull | Leucophaeus atricilla | not detected | common | increased |
| Least Flycatcher | Empidonax minimus | not detected | uncommon | increased |
| Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | not detected | common | increased |
| Merlin | Falco columbarius | not detected | common | increased |
| Mourning Dove | Zenaida macroura | not detected | common | increased |
| Nelson’s Sparrow | Ammospiza nelsoni | not detected | common | increased |
| Northern Cardinal | Cardinalis cardinalis | not detected | common | increased |
| Northern Gannet | Morus bassanus | not detected | common | increased |
| Palm Warbler | Setophaga palmarum | not detected | uncommon | increased |
| Peregrine Falcon | Falco peregrinus | not detected | common | increased |
| Pileated Woodpecker | Dryocopus pileatus | not detected | common | increased |
| Pine Warbler | Setophaga pinus | not detected | common | increased |
| Red-necked Grebe | Podiceps grisegena | not detected | uncommon | increased |
| Ring-billed Gull | Larus delawarensis | not detected | common | increased |
| Rock Pigeon | Columba livia | not detected | common | increased |
| Ruby-crowned Kinglet | Corthylio calendula | not detected | uncommon | increased |
| Semipalmated Plover | Charadrius semipalmatus | not detected | common | increased |
| Snowy Egret | Egretta thula | not detected | uncommon | increased |
| Swamp Sparrow | Melospiza georgiana | not detected | common | increased |
| Tennessee Warbler | Leiothlypis peregrina | not detected | uncommon | increased |
| Tufted Titmouse | Baeolophus bicolor | not detected | uncommon | increased |
| Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | not detected | common | increased |
| Veery | Catharus fuscescens | not detected | uncommon | increased |
| White-breasted Nuthatch | Sitta carolinensis | not detected | common | increased |
| White-winged Scoter | Melanitta deglandi | not detected | common | increased |
| Wild Turkey | Meleagris gallopavo | not detected | common | increased |
| Wilson’s Storm-Petrel | Oceanites oceanicus | not detected | uncommon | increased |
| Wood Duck | Aix sponsa | not detected | common | increased |
| Wood Thrush | Hylocichla mustelina | not detected | common | increased |
| Yellow-bellied Sapsucker | Sphyrapicus varius | not detected | uncommon | increased |
Figure 2. Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens) modern day distribution across MDI. Data provided by eBird and iNaturalist, 2018 - 2021.
Figure 3. Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) modern day distribution across MDI. Data provided by eBird and iNaturalist, 2018 - 2021.
Figure 4. Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) modern day distribution across MDI. Data provided by eBird and iNaturalist, 2018 - 2021.
Table 2. This table shows the species that exhibited noteable decreases in relative abundance since the 1880’s. Data collected on Mount Desert Island, Maine, USA, and provided by eBird and iNaturalist.
Click to show table
| Common name | Scientific name | R. a. 1880’s | R. a. modern | R. a. changes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Woodcock | Scolopax minor | common | rare | decreased |
| Bank Swallow | Riparia riparia | common | rare | decreased |
| Black-billed Cuckoo | Coccyzus erythropthalmus | common | rare | decreased |
| Black-crowned Night-Heron | Nycticorax nycticorax | common | very rare | decreased |
| Black-legged Kittiwake | Rissa tridactyla | uncommon | very rare | decreased |
| Canada Warbler | Cardellina canadensis | common | rare | decreased |
| Chimney Swift | Chaetura pelagica | common | rare | decreased |
| Cliff Swallow | Petrochelidon pyrrhonota | common | very rare | decreased |
| Passenger Pigeon | Ectopistes migratorius | rare | extinct | decreased |
| Pine Siskin | Spinus pinus | common | rare | decreased |
| Ruffed Grouse | Bonasa umbellus | common | rare | decreased |
| Yellow-bellied Flycatcher | Empidonax flaviventris | common | rare | decreased |
Figure 5. American Woodcock (Scolopax minor) modern day distribution across MDI. Data provided by eBird and iNaturalist, 2018 - 2021.
Figure 6. Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) modern day distribution across MDI. Data provided by eBird and iNaturalist, 2018 - 2021.
Figure 7. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (Empidonax flaviventris) modern day distribution across MDI. Data provided by eBird and iNaturalist, 2018 - 2021.
Table 3. This table shows the species that are seen regularly (those with the relative frequencies of rare, uncommon, and common) on MDI, but were not documented in the 1880’s by the Champlain Society’s efforts.
Click to show table
| Common name | Scientific name | Relative abundance |
|---|---|---|
| American Kestrel | Falco sparverius | rare |
| American Oystercatcher | Haematopus palliatus | rare |
| Arctic Tern | Sterna paradisaea | rare |
| Atlantic Puffin | Fratercula arctica | rare |
| Baltimore Oriole | Icterus galbula | rare |
| Black-bellied Plover | Pluvialis squatarola | uncommon |
| Blackpoll Warbler | Setophaga striata | uncommon |
| Brown-headed Cowbird | Molothrus ater | rare |
| Canada Goose | Branta canadensis | common |
| Cape May Warbler | Setophaga tigrina | uncommon |
| Carolina Wren | Thryothorus ludovicianus | rare |
| Common Eider | Somateria mollissima | common |
| Common Grackle | Quiscalus quiscula | common |
| Common Merganser | Mergus merganser | common |
| Common Murre | Uria aalge | rare |
| Common Raven | Corvus corax | common |
| Cooper’s Hawk | Accipiter cooperii | uncommon |
| Double-crested Cormorant | Nannopterum auritum | common |
| Eastern Towhee | Pipilo erythrophthalmus | common |
| Eastern Wood-Pewee | Contopus virens | common |
| European Starling | Sturnus vulgaris | uncommon |
| Field Sparrow | Spizella pusilla | rare |
| Gray Catbird | Dumetella carolinensis | common |
| Great Black-backed Gull | Larus marinus | common |
| Great Cormorant | Phalacrocorax carbo | uncommon |
| Great Crested Flycatcher | Myiarchus crinitus | uncommon |
| Great Egret | Ardea alba | uncommon |
| Great Shearwater | Ardenna gravis | rare |
| Green-winged Teal | Anas crecca | uncommon |
| Hooded Merganser | Lophodytes cucullatus | common |
| House Finch | Haemorhous mexicanus | common |
| House Sparrow | Passer domesticus | common |
| House Wren | Troglodytes aedon | rare |
| Killdeer | Charadrius vociferus | rare |
| Laughing Gull | Leucophaeus atricilla | common |
| Least Flycatcher | Empidonax minimus | uncommon |
| Lesser Black-backed Gull | Larus fuscus | rare |
| Lincoln’s Sparrow | Melospiza lincolnii | rare |
| Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | common |
| Merlin | Falco columbarius | common |
| Mourning Dove | Zenaida macroura | common |
| Nelson’s Sparrow | Ammospiza nelsoni | common |
| Northern Cardinal | Cardinalis cardinalis | common |
| Northern Gannet | Morus bassanus | common |
| Northern Goshawk | Accipiter gentilis | rare |
| Northern Mockingbird | Mimus polyglottos | rare |
| Olive-sided Flycatcher | Contopus cooperi | rare |
| Palm Warbler | Setophaga palmarum | uncommon |
| Peregrine Falcon | Falco peregrinus | common |
| Philadelphia Vireo | Vireo philadelphicus | rare |
| Pileated Woodpecker | Dryocopus pileatus | common |
| Pine Warbler | Setophaga pinus | common |
| Razorbill | Alca torda | rare |
| Red-breasted Merganser | Mergus serrator | rare |
| Red-necked Grebe | Podiceps grisegena | uncommon |
| Red-necked Phalarope | Phalaropus lobatus | rare |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | Buteo lineatus | rare |
| Ring-billed Gull | Larus delawarensis | common |
| Rock Pigeon | Columba livia | common |
| Rose-breasted Grosbeak | Pheucticus ludovicianus | rare |
| Ruby-crowned Kinglet | Corthylio calendula | uncommon |
| Sanderling | Calidris alba | rare |
| Scarlet Tanager | Piranga olivacea | rare |
| Semipalmated Plover | Charadrius semipalmatus | common |
| Snowy Egret | Egretta thula | uncommon |
| Surf Scoter | Melanitta perspicillata | rare |
| Swamp Sparrow | Melospiza georgiana | common |
| Tennessee Warbler | Leiothlypis peregrina | uncommon |
| Tufted Titmouse | Baeolophus bicolor | uncommon |
| Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | common |
| Veery | Catharus fuscescens | uncommon |
| Warbling Vireo | Vireo gilvus | rare |
| Whimbrel | Numenius phaeopus | rare |
| White-breasted Nuthatch | Sitta carolinensis | common |
| White-rumped Sandpiper | Calidris fuscicollis | rare |
| White-winged Scoter | Melanitta deglandi | common |
| Wild Turkey | Meleagris gallopavo | common |
| Wilson’s Storm-Petrel | Oceanites oceanicus | uncommon |
| Wood Duck | Aix sponsa | common |
| Wood Thrush | Hylocichla mustelina | common |
| Yellow-bellied Sapsucker | Sphyrapicus varius | uncommon |
| Yellow-billed Cuckoo | Coccyzus americanus | rare |
Table 4. This table breaks down of all species recorded by the Champlain Society with their relative abundances from the 1880’s and today. Data collected on Mount Desert Island, Maine, USA, and provided by eBird and iNaturalist.
Click to show table
| Common name | Scientific name | R. a. 1880’s | R. a. modern |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alder Flycatcher | Empidonax alnorum | common | common |
| American Bittern | Botaurus lentiginosus | rare | uncommon |
| American Black Duck | Anas rubripes | common | common |
| American Crow | Corvus brachyrhynchos | common | common |
| American Goldfinch | Spinus tristis | common | common |
| American Redstart | Setophaga ruticilla | common | common |
| American Robin | Turdus migratorius | common | common |
| American Woodcock | Scolopax minor | common | rare |
| Bald Eagle | Haliaeetus leucocephalus | common | common |
| Bank Swallow | Riparia riparia | common | rare |
| Barn Swallow | Hirundo rustica | common | common |
| Barred Owl | Strix varia | uncommon | common |
| Bay-breasted Warbler | Setophaga castanea | common | uncommon |
| Belted Kingfisher | Megaceryle alcyon | common | common |
| Black Guillemot | Cepphus grylle | common | common |
| Black Scoter | Melanitta americana | rare | uncommon |
| Black-and-white Warbler | Mniotilta varia | common | common |
| Black-billed Cuckoo | Coccyzus erythropthalmus | common | rare |
| Black-capped Chickadee | Poecile atricapillus | common | common |
| Black-crowned Night-Heron | Nycticorax nycticorax | common | very rare |
| Black-legged Kittiwake | Rissa tridactyla | uncommon | very rare |
| Black-throated Blue Warbler | Setophaga caerulescens | very rare | common |
| Black-throated Green Warbler | Setophaga virens | common | common |
| Blackburnian Warbler | Setophaga fusca | common | common |
| Blue Jay | Cyanocitta cristata | rare | common |
| Blue-headed Vireo | Vireo solitarius | common | common |
| Bobolink | Dolichonyx oryzivorus | uncommon | uncommon |
| Bonaparte’s Gull | Chroicocephalus philadelphia | uncommon | common |
| Boreal Chickadee | Poecile hudsonicus | rare | very rare |
| Broad-winged Hawk | Buteo platypterus | common | common |
| Brown Creeper | Certhia americana | rare | common |
| Canada Warbler | Cardellina canadensis | common | rare |
| Cedar Waxwing | Bombycilla cedrorum | common | common |
| Chestnut-sided Warbler | Setophaga pensylvanica | common | common |
| Chimney Swift | Chaetura pelagica | common | rare |
| Chipping Sparrow | Spizella passerina | common | common |
| Common Loon | Gavia immer | uncommon | common |
| Common Nighthawk | Chordeiles minor | common | common |
| Common Tern | Sterna hirundo | common | common |
| Common Yellowthroat | Geothlypis trichas | common | common |
| Dark-eyed Junco | Junco hyemalis | common | common |
| Downy Woodpecker | Dryobates pubescens | common | common |
| Eastern Bluebird | Sialia sialis | very rare | uncommon |
| Eastern Kingbird | Tyrannus tyrannus | uncommon | rare |
| Eastern Phoebe | Sayornis phoebe | rare | common |
| Golden-crowned Kinglet | Regulus satrapa | common | common |
| Great Blue Heron | Ardea herodias | common | common |
| Greater Yellowlegs | Tringa melanoleuca | uncommon | common |
| Hairy Woodpecker | Dryobates villosus | common | common |
| Hermit Thrush | Catharus guttatus | common | common |
| Herring Gull | Larus argentatus | common | common |
| Indigo Bunting | Passerina cyanea | rare | very rare |
| Leach’s Storm-Petrel | Hydrobates leucorhous | rare | rare |
| Least Sandpiper | Calidris minutilla | common | common |
| Lesser Yellowlegs | Tringa flavipes | uncommon | common |
| Long-tailed Duck | Clangula hyemalis | very rare | very rare |
| Magnolia Warbler | Setophaga magnolia | common | common |
| Nashville Warbler | Leiothlypis ruficapilla | common | uncommon |
| Northern Flicker | Colaptes auratus | common | common |
| Northern Harrier | Circus hudsonius | rare | uncommon |
| Northern Parula | Setophaga americana | common | common |
| Northern Waterthrush | Parkesia noveboracensis | rare | rare |
| Osprey | Pandion haliaetus | common | common |
| Ovenbird | Seiurus aurocapilla | common | common |
| Pectoral Sandpiper | Calidris melanotos | very rare | very rare |
| Pied-billed Grebe | Podilymbus podiceps | rare | very rare |
| Pine Siskin | Spinus pinus | common | rare |
| Purple Finch | Haemorhous purpureus | common | common |
| Red Crossbill | Loxia curvirostra | rare | common |
| Red-breasted Nuthatch | Sitta canadensis | common | common |
| Red-eyed Vireo | Vireo olivaceus | common | common |
| Red-tailed Hawk | Buteo jamaicensis | very rare | uncommon |
| Red-winged Blackbird | Agelaius phoeniceus | uncommon | common |
| Ring-necked Duck | Aythya collaris | rare | very rare |
| Ruby-throated Hummingbird | Archilochus colubris | common | common |
| Ruddy Turnstone | Arenaria interpres | uncommon | rare |
| Ruffed Grouse | Bonasa umbellus | common | rare |
| Savannah Sparrow | Passerculus sandwichensis | common | common |
| Semipalmated Sandpiper | Calidris pusilla | common | common |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | Accipiter striatus | uncommon | common |
| Short-billed Dowitcher | Limnodromus griseus | uncommon | rare |
| Solitary Sandpiper | Tringa solitaria | rare | common |
| Song Sparrow | Melospiza melodia | common | common |
| Spotted Sandpiper | Actitis macularius | common | common |
| Swainson’s Thrush | Catharus ustulatus | common | common |
| Tree Swallow | Tachycineta bicolor | common | common |
| Vesper Sparrow | Pooecetes gramineus | rare | rare |
| White-throated Sparrow | Zonotrichia albicollis | common | common |
| White-winged Crossbill | Loxia leucoptera | rare | uncommon |
| Wilson’s Warbler | Cardellina pusilla | rare | rare |
| Winter Wren | Troglodytes hiemalis | common | common |
| Yellow Warbler | Setophaga petechia | common | common |
| Yellow-bellied Flycatcher | Empidonax flaviventris | common | rare |
| Yellow-rumped Warbler | Setophaga coronata | common | common |
| Eastern Whip-poor-will | Antrostomus vociferus | rare | very rare |
| Passenger Pigeon | Ectopistes migratorius | rare | extinct |
| Cliff Swallow | Petrochelidon pyrrhonota | common | very rare |
| Purple Martin | Progne subis | rare | very rare |
The historical dataset from the Champlain Society was collected from early July through the first week of September 1880 – 1883. To properly compare these data to modern day, we used eBird and iNaturalist data filtered to the same early July through the first week of September time frame, and over the same number of years from 2018 – 2021. To compare how often these species were/are detected, we had to create a qualitative descriptor properly assigned to the species as the historical dataset did not allow for a quantitative analysis. These designations were assigned based on the Champlain Society’s notes, and other sources describing species abundance around that time. For the modern dataset we used a count of the number of times a species was reported and designated a category based on these bins: < 5 = ‘very rare’, 5 > 20 = ‘rare’, 20 > 50 = ‘uncommon’, > 50 = ‘common.’
We used these detection frequencies to compare modern and historic times, and separated species with changes greater than one category into the ‘notably’ increasing or decreasing tables. For example, if a species was common in the 1880’s but is now uncommon, that would not constitute a notable change. Whereas, if a species was common in the 1880’s but is now rare, that would qualify as a notably decreasing species. We made this distinction considering the qualitative nature of our data with broad bins in which species were assigned, and on the basis that qualitative data like this should not be used to distinguish fine scale details.
How have insects species changed from 1900 to now? To answer this question, we first delved into the efforts of the iNaturalist community and compared this to a historical collection of insects compiled by Proctor in the early 1900’s. On the initial look at these data, there was a stark difference between the two datasets. Proctor had collected 1360 species, while the iNaturalist community over the last 10 years only identified 362 species. Much of this can be attributed to the difference in methods: Proctor’s specimen collection method vs. the far less invasive photo documentation of iNaturalist. While iNaturalist’s methods are much safer and less invasive, there are limitations as many insects can only be identified to species in the hand with equipment such as loupes, microscopes, etc. This means we need your help!! Community efforts by citizens scientists are invaluable, and can accomplish documentation on scales matched by no other. In order to properly make inferences from the iNaturalist dataset, we need more effort in and around Acadia National Park to document more species that are present in the area.
The modern iNaturalist community identified 20% (n = 274) of the 1360 species that Proctor documented in the 1900’s. Interestingly, the rest of the 362 species identified by the iNaturalist community (88 species) were not recorded by Proctor’s efforts, and were likely not present in the early 1900’s (Table 1). For a full look at the species diversity between all families, see Figure 1.
We also wanted to look more specifically at pollinating insects, and we saw a similar trend to the total dataset. There were 199 pollinating species recorded by iNaturalist, and 762 recorded by Proctor. iNaturalist recorded only 10% (n = 134) of the 762 pollinating species that Proctor documented. iNaturalist also identified 65 pollinating species that were not recorded by Proctor (Table 2). To look a little closer at pollinators, we explored just the bumblebees (Bombus spp.).
Threatened and endangered species were another category we wanted to explore the status of on MDI. Historically, Proctor collected specimens of a Maine endangered species known as the Edwards’ Hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii). According to the MDIFW Endangered Species Program, this species today has only been found at three sites in southwestern Maine. The extensive reduction in abundance of this species can largely be attributed to the loss of their native habitat, pitch pine-scrub oak barrens, which have been reduced to less than 50% of their historic range (MDIFW Endangered Species Program, 2003).
Table 1. This table shows the 88 species that the iNaturalist community identified over the past 10 years, that were not recorded by Proctor in the 1900s. Data collected on Mount Desert Island, Maine, USA, and provided by iNaturalist and the National Park Service.
Click to show table
| Order | Super family | Family | Scientific name | Common name | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | Hymenoptera | Apoidea | Apidae | Bombus griseocollis | Brown-belted Bumble Bee |
| 17 | Hymenoptera | Apoidea | Apidae | Bombus impatiens | Common Eastern Bumble Bee |
| 87 | Hymenoptera | Apoidea | Apidae | Xylocopa virginica | Eastern Carpenter Bee |
| 18 | Lepidoptera | Bombycoidea | Saturniidae | Callosamia promethea | Promethea Silkmoth |
| 45 | Lepidoptera | Bombycoidea | Sphingidae | Hemaris aethra | Diervilla Clearwing |
| 59 | Lepidoptera | Bombycoidea | Sphingidae | Manduca sexta | Carolina Sphinx |
| 13 | Lepidoptera | Gelechioidea | Gelechiidae | Arogalea cristifasciella | White Stripe-backed Moth |
| 41 | Lepidoptera | Gelechioidea | Autostichidae | Gerdana caritella | |
| 79 | Lepidoptera | Gelechioidea | Gelechiidae | Scrobipalpula manierreorum | |
| 48 | Lepidoptera | Geometroidea | Geometridae | Idaea dimidiata | Single-dotted Wave |
| 56 | Lepidoptera | Geometroidea | Geometridae | Macaria aemulataria | Common Angle |
| 57 | Lepidoptera | Geometroidea | Geometridae | Macaria pustularia | Lesser Maple Spanworm Moth |
| 63 | Lepidoptera | Geometroidea | Geometridae | Nematocampa resistaria | Horned Spanworm Moth |
| 76 | Lepidoptera | Geometroidea | Geometridae | Rheumaptera prunivorata | Cherry Scallop Shell Moth |
| 86 | Lepidoptera | Geometroidea | Geometridae | Xanthotype | Crocus Geometer Moths |
| 84 | Lepidoptera | Hepialoidea | Hepialidae | Sthenopis pretiosus | Gold-spotted Ghost Moth |
| 2 | Lepidoptera | Noctuoidea | Noctuidae | Acronicta fallax | Green Marvel |
| 3 | Lepidoptera | Noctuoidea | Noctuidae | Acronicta funeralis | Funerary Dagger |
| 4 | Lepidoptera | Noctuoidea | Noctuidae | Acronicta insita | Large Gray Dagger |
| 5 | Lepidoptera | Noctuoidea | Noctuidae | Acronicta oblinita | Smeared Dagger |
| 8 | Lepidoptera | Noctuoidea | Erebidae | Apantesis figurata | Figured Tiger Moth |
| 9 | Lepidoptera | Noctuoidea | Erebidae | Apantesis virgo | Virgin Tiger Moth |
| 12 | Lepidoptera | Noctuoidea | Erebidae | Arctia parthenos | St. Lawrence Tiger Moth |
| 14 | Lepidoptera | Noctuoidea | Nolidae | Baileya doubledayi | Doubleday’s Baileya Moth |
| 15 | Lepidoptera | Noctuoidea | Noctuidae | Bellura obliqua | Cattail Borer Moth |
| 19 | Lepidoptera | Noctuoidea | Noctuidae | Calophasia lunula | Toadflax Brocade Moth |
| 23 | Lepidoptera | Noctuoidea | Erebidae | Chytolita morbidalis | Morbid Owlet |
| 25 | Lepidoptera | Noctuoidea | Erebidae | Cycnia tenera | Delicate Cycnia Moth |
| 26 | Lepidoptera | Noctuoidea | Notodontidae | Datana contracta | Contracted Datana Moth |
| 28 | Lepidoptera | Noctuoidea | Erebidae | Doryodes spadaria | Dull Doryodes Moth |
| 29 | Lepidoptera | Noctuoidea | Noctuidae | Elaphria alapallida | Pale-winged Midget |
| 33 | Lepidoptera | Noctuoidea | Erebidae | Euchaetes egle | Milkweed Tussock Moth |
| 37 | Lepidoptera | Noctuoidea | Noctuidae | Eudryas grata | Beautiful Wood-nymph |
| 38 | Lepidoptera | Noctuoidea | Noctuidae | Eupsilia vinulenta | Straight-toothed Sallow |
| 39 | Lepidoptera | Noctuoidea | Noctuidae | Feltia herilis | Master’s Dart |
| 44 | Lepidoptera | Noctuoidea | Erebidae | Haploa clymene | Clymene Moth |
| 46 | Lepidoptera | Noctuoidea | Erebidae | Hypena manalis | Flowing-line Snout |
| 52 | Lepidoptera | Noctuoidea | Noctuidae | Lithophane baileyi | Bailey’s Pinion Moth |
| 54 | Lepidoptera | Noctuoidea | Erebidae | Lophocampa caryae | Hickory Tussock Moth |
| 58 | Lepidoptera | Noctuoidea | Noctuidae | Maliattha synochitis | Black-dotted Glyph |
| 62 | Lepidoptera | Noctuoidea | Erebidae | Mycterophora inexplicata | Pale-edged Snout Moth |
| 64 | Lepidoptera | Noctuoidea | Noctuidae | Neoligia exhausta | Exhausted Brocade |
| 65 | Lepidoptera | Noctuoidea | Noctuidae | Noctua pronuba | Large Yellow Underwing |
| 67 | Lepidoptera | Noctuoidea | Noctuidae | Oligia strigilis | Marbled Minor |
| 68 | Lepidoptera | Noctuoidea | Erebidae | Panopoda rufimargo | Red-lined Panopoda Moth |
| 75 | Lepidoptera | Noctuoidea | Noctuidae | Psectraglaea carnosa | Pink Sallow |
| 88 | Lepidoptera | Noctuoidea | Erebidae | Zanclognatha laevigata | Variable Fan-foot |
| 7 | Lepidoptera | Papilionoidea | Hesperiidae | Anatrytone logan | Delaware Skipper |
| 20 | Lepidoptera | Papilionoidea | Hesperiidae | Carterocephalus mandan | Arctic Skipper |
| 21 | Lepidoptera | Papilionoidea | Lycaenidae | Celastrina lucia | Northern Azure |
| 24 | Lepidoptera | Papilionoidea | Nymphalidae | Coenonympha california | Common Ringlet |
| 31 | Lepidoptera | Papilionoidea | Hesperiidae | Epargyreus clarus | Silver-spotted Skipper |
| 32 | Lepidoptera | Papilionoidea | Hesperiidae | Erynnis juvenalis | Juvenal’s Duskywing |
| 42 | Lepidoptera | Papilionoidea | Lycaenidae | Glaucopsyche lygdamus | Silvery Blue |
| 49 | Lepidoptera | Papilionoidea | Nymphalidae | Lethe anthedon | Northern Pearly-eye |
| 50 | Lepidoptera | Papilionoidea | Nymphalidae | Lethe appalachia | Appalachian Brown |
| 51 | Lepidoptera | Papilionoidea | Nymphalidae | Limenitis arthemis arthemis | American White Admiral |
| 53 | Lepidoptera | Papilionoidea | Hesperiidae | Lon hobomok | Hobomok Skipper |
| 55 | Lepidoptera | Papilionoidea | Lycaenidae | Lycaena phlaeas hypophlaeas | Eastern American Copper |
| 60 | Lepidoptera | Papilionoidea | Nymphalidae | Megisto cymela | Little Wood Satyr |
| 66 | Lepidoptera | Papilionoidea | Nymphalidae | Nymphalis l-album | Compton Tortoiseshell |
| 69 | Lepidoptera | Papilionoidea | Papilionidae | Papilio canadensis | Canadian Tiger Swallowtail |
| 70 | Lepidoptera | Papilionoidea | Papilionidae | Papilio polyxenes | Black Swallowtail |
| 72 | Lepidoptera | Papilionoidea | Nymphalidae | Phyciodes cocyta | Northern Crescent |
| 77 | Lepidoptera | Papilionoidea | Lycaenidae | Satyrium liparops | Striped Hairstreak |
| 82 | Lepidoptera | Papilionoidea | Nymphalidae | Speyeria cybele | Great Spangled Fritillary |
| 85 | Lepidoptera | Papilionoidea | Hesperiidae | Thymelicus lineola | Essex Skipper |
| 40 | Lepidoptera | Pterophoroidea | Pterophoridae | Geina buscki | Buck’s Plume Moth |
| 6 | Lepidoptera | Pyraloidea | Crambidae | Anania hortulata | Small Magpie |
| 27 | Lepidoptera | Pyraloidea | Crambidae | Donacaula longirostrallus | Long-beaked Donacaula Moth |
| 30 | Lepidoptera | Pyraloidea | Crambidae | Eoparargyractis plevie | |
| 47 | Lepidoptera | Pyraloidea | Pyralidae | Hypsopygia olinalis | Yellow-fringed Dolichomia Moth |
| 61 | Lepidoptera | Pyraloidea | Crambidae | Microcrambus biguttellus | Gold-striped Grass-veneer |
| 74 | Lepidoptera | Pyraloidea | Pyralidae | Pococera expandens | Striped Oak Webworm Moth |
| 78 | Lepidoptera | Pyraloidea | Crambidae | Scoparia biplagialis | Double-striped Scoparia Moth |
| 80 | Lepidoptera | Pyraloidea | Crambidae | Sitochroa palealis | Carrot Seed Moth |
| 83 | Lepidoptera | Sphingoidea | Sphingidae | Sphinx poecila | Northern Apple Sphinx |
| 1 | Lepidoptera | Tortricoidea | Tortricidae | Acleris forsskaleana | Maple Leaftier Moth |
| 11 | Lepidoptera | Tortricoidea | Tortricidae | Archips dissitana | Boldly-marked Archips Moth |
| 22 | Lepidoptera | Tortricoidea | Tortricidae | Cenopis reticulatana | Reticulated Fruitworm Moth |
| 35 | Lepidoptera | Tortricoidea | Tortricidae | Eucosma ochroterminana | Buff-tipped Eucosma Moth |
| 36 | Lepidoptera | Tortricoidea | Tortricidae | Eucosma parmatana | Aster Eucosma Moth |
| 43 | Lepidoptera | Tortricoidea | Tortricidae | Gymnandrosoma punctidiscanum | Dotted Gymnandrosoma Moth |
| 71 | Lepidoptera | Tortricoidea | Tortricidae | Pelochrista derelicta | Derelict Pelochrista Moth |
| 73 | Lepidoptera | Tortricoidea | Tortricidae | Platynota exasperatana | Exasperating Platynota Moth |
| 81 | Lepidoptera | Tortricoidea | Tortricidae | Sparganothis tristriata | Three-streaked Sparganothis Moth |
| 10 | Lepidoptera | Zygaenoidea | Limacodidae | Apoda biguttata | Shagreened Slug Moth |
| 34 | Lepidoptera | Zygaenoidea | Limacodidae | Euclea delphinii | Spiny Oak-slug Moth |
Figure 1. Comparison of the number of species by family from modern iNaturalist data and historical data collected by Proctor in the 1900’s. Data collected on Mount Desert Island, Maine, USA, and provided by iNaturalist and the National Park Service.
Table 2. This table shows the 65 pollinating species that the iNaturalist community identified and were not recorded by Proctor in the 1900s. Data collected on Mount Desert Island, Maine, USA, and provided by iNaturalist and the National Park Service.
Click to show table
| Order | Super family | Family | Scientific name | Common name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hymenoptera | Apoidea | Apidae | Bombus griseocollis | Brown-belted Bumble Bee |
| Hymenoptera | Apoidea | Apidae | Bombus impatiens | Common Eastern Bumble Bee |
| Hymenoptera | Apoidea | Apidae | Xylocopa virginica | Eastern Carpenter Bee |
| Lepidoptera | Geometroidea | Geometridae | Idaea dimidiata | Single-dotted Wave |
| Lepidoptera | Geometroidea | Geometridae | Macaria aemulataria | Common Angle |
| Lepidoptera | Geometroidea | Geometridae | Macaria pustularia | Lesser Maple Spanworm Moth |
| Lepidoptera | Geometroidea | Geometridae | Nematocampa resistaria | Horned Spanworm Moth |
| Lepidoptera | Geometroidea | Geometridae | Rheumaptera prunivorata | Cherry Scallop Shell Moth |
| Lepidoptera | Geometroidea | Geometridae | Xanthotype | Crocus Geometer Moths |
| Lepidoptera | Papilionoidea | Hesperiidae | Anatrytone logan | Delaware Skipper |
| Lepidoptera | Papilionoidea | Hesperiidae | Carterocephalus mandan | Arctic Skipper |
| Lepidoptera | Papilionoidea | Hesperiidae | Epargyreus clarus | Silver-spotted Skipper |
| Lepidoptera | Papilionoidea | Hesperiidae | Erynnis juvenalis | Juvenal’s Duskywing |
| Lepidoptera | Papilionoidea | Hesperiidae | Lon hobomok | Hobomok Skipper |
| Lepidoptera | Papilionoidea | Hesperiidae | Thymelicus lineola | Essex Skipper |
| Lepidoptera | Papilionoidea | Lycaenidae | Celastrina lucia | Northern Azure |
| Lepidoptera | Papilionoidea | Lycaenidae | Glaucopsyche lygdamus | Silvery Blue |
| Lepidoptera | Papilionoidea | Lycaenidae | Lycaena phlaeas hypophlaeas | Eastern American Copper |
| Lepidoptera | Papilionoidea | Lycaenidae | Satyrium liparops | Striped Hairstreak |
| Lepidoptera | Noctuoidea | Noctuidae | Acronicta fallax | Green Marvel |
| Lepidoptera | Noctuoidea | Noctuidae | Acronicta funeralis | Funerary Dagger |
| Lepidoptera | Noctuoidea | Noctuidae | Acronicta insita | Large Gray Dagger |
| Lepidoptera | Noctuoidea | Noctuidae | Acronicta oblinita | Smeared Dagger |
| Lepidoptera | Noctuoidea | Noctuidae | Bellura obliqua | Cattail Borer Moth |
| Lepidoptera | Noctuoidea | Noctuidae | Calophasia lunula | Toadflax Brocade Moth |
| Lepidoptera | Noctuoidea | Noctuidae | Elaphria alapallida | Pale-winged Midget |
| Lepidoptera | Noctuoidea | Noctuidae | Eudryas grata | Beautiful Wood-nymph |
| Lepidoptera | Noctuoidea | Noctuidae | Eupsilia vinulenta | Straight-toothed Sallow |
| Lepidoptera | Noctuoidea | Noctuidae | Feltia herilis | Master’s Dart |
| Lepidoptera | Noctuoidea | Noctuidae | Lithophane baileyi | Bailey’s Pinion Moth |
| Lepidoptera | Noctuoidea | Noctuidae | Maliattha synochitis | Black-dotted Glyph |
| Lepidoptera | Noctuoidea | Noctuidae | Neoligia exhausta | Exhausted Brocade |
| Lepidoptera | Noctuoidea | Noctuidae | Noctua pronuba | Large Yellow Underwing |
| Lepidoptera | Noctuoidea | Noctuidae | Oligia strigilis | Marbled Minor |
| Lepidoptera | Noctuoidea | Noctuidae | Psectraglaea carnosa | Pink Sallow |
| Lepidoptera | Papilionoidea | Nymphalidae | Coenonympha california | Common Ringlet |
| Lepidoptera | Papilionoidea | Nymphalidae | Lethe anthedon | Northern Pearly-eye |
| Lepidoptera | Papilionoidea | Nymphalidae | Lethe appalachia | Appalachian Brown |
| Lepidoptera | Papilionoidea | Nymphalidae | Limenitis arthemis arthemis | American White Admiral |
| Lepidoptera | Papilionoidea | Nymphalidae | Megisto cymela | Little Wood Satyr |
| Lepidoptera | Papilionoidea | Nymphalidae | Nymphalis l-album | Compton Tortoiseshell |
| Lepidoptera | Papilionoidea | Nymphalidae | Phyciodes cocyta | Northern Crescent |
| Lepidoptera | Papilionoidea | Nymphalidae | Speyeria cybele | Great Spangled Fritillary |
| Lepidoptera | Papilionoidea | Papilionidae | Papilio canadensis | Canadian Tiger Swallowtail |
| Lepidoptera | Papilionoidea | Papilionidae | Papilio polyxenes | Black Swallowtail |
| Lepidoptera | Sphingoidea | Sphingidae | Aellopos titan | Titan Sphinx |
| Lepidoptera | Sphingoidea | Sphingidae | Ceratomia undulosa | Waved Sphinx |
| Lepidoptera | Sphingoidea | Sphingidae | Darapsa choerilus | Azalea Sphinx |
| Lepidoptera | Sphingoidea | Sphingidae | Dolba hyloeus | Pawpaw Sphinx |
| Lepidoptera | Sphingoidea | Sphingidae | Eumorpha pandorus | Pandorus Sphinx |
| Lepidoptera | Bombycoidea | Sphingidae | Hemaris aethra | Diervilla Clearwing |
| Lepidoptera | Sphingoidea | Sphingidae | Hemaris diffinis | Snowberry Clearwing |
| Lepidoptera | Sphingoidea | Sphingidae | Hemaris gracilis | Slender Clearwing |
| Lepidoptera | Sphingoidea | Sphingidae | Hemaris thysbe | Hummingbird Clearwing |
| Lepidoptera | Sphingoidea | Sphingidae | Hyles gallii | Bedstraw Hawkmoth |
| Lepidoptera | Sphingoidea | Sphingidae | Lapara bombycoides | Northern Pine Sphinx |
| Lepidoptera | Bombycoidea | Sphingidae | Manduca sexta | Carolina Sphinx |
| Lepidoptera | Sphingoidea | Sphingidae | Pachysphinx modesta | Modest Sphinx |
| Lepidoptera | Sphingoidea | Sphingidae | Paonias excaecata | Blinded Sphinx |
| Lepidoptera | Sphingoidea | Sphingidae | Paonias myops | Small-eyed Sphinx |
| Lepidoptera | Sphingoidea | Sphingidae | Smerinthus cerisyi | One-eyed Sphinx |
| Lepidoptera | Sphingoidea | Sphingidae | Sphinx chersis | Great Ash Sphinx |
| Lepidoptera | Sphingoidea | Sphingidae | Sphinx drupiferarum | Wild Cherry Sphinx |
| Lepidoptera | Sphingoidea | Sphingidae | Sphinx kalmiae | Laurel Sphinx |
| Lepidoptera | Sphingoidea | Sphingidae | Sphinx poecila | Northern Apple Sphinx |